Paving apparatus



Jan. 13, 1959 l w. F. BENSON w 2,867,886

PAVING APPARATUS Filed May 19, 195s :s sheets-snee'l c F/GZ a c 35.

Jan. 13, 1959 w. F. BENSON PAVING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 19, 1958 INVENTOR'. MLTER F BE/vso/v ATTORNEYS Jan. 13, 1959 w. F. BENSON. 2,867,886

PAVING APPARATUS Filed May 19, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORJ WALTER BE/vso/v /ua ATTORNEYS nited States This invention relates to a paving apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus of the so-called do it yourself type for building such concrete structures as patios and the like. The invention is an improvement over that disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 534,533, tiled September l5, 1955, now Patent Number 2,843,912.

In the copending application referred to, there is disclosed an apparatus by which suitable slab-forming molds may be placed on a horizontal surface in predetermined relation to each other for the formation in the molds of slab elements. After these elements have set, the apparatus is removed and rearranged to provide elements, in combination with the previously formed slabs, forming molds for the pouring of additional slabs. This procedure is repeated until the entire pavement, patio, or the like has been completed. The apparatus is of such character that it readily may be employed by the average home owner in building patios and the like.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an improvement over the structure in my copending application by means of which the progressive work of forming successive slabs is greatly facilitated, the necessity for removing all of the structural elements after the formation of the initial slabs being eliminated.

A further object is to provide such an apparatus wherein any number of mold-forming units may be employed, each unit comprising a hub having novel means for anchoring it in position and for facilitating, without removal of certain of the hub members, the removal of the elements which form sides of the molds for making the initial set of slabs, and re-arranging the parts relative to those hubs which remain in position to provide for the formation of the next set of molds, thus facilitating and hastening the progress of the work in completing the pavement or patio.

A further object is to provide such an apparatus wherein each hub member is adapted to be accurately located with respect to the slab elements to be formed Aand to provide novel means for detachably connecting to the hub members the plates forming elements of the slab molds, such elements being detachable and movable to a different position and connected to a hub unit to facilitate the formation of the next slab.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of this character wherein the parts are assembled with respect to each hub member, whereupon holding elements in the form of spikes are driven into the ground to x the hub member in position, and to provide each hub member with novel means whereby the mold-forming plates carried thereby merely may be swung upwardly to be disconnected from the hub members to be moved to a different position with respect thereto for continuing the paving operation in forming the next set of slabs.

A further object is to provide such an apparatus wherein the mold-forming plates connected to the hub members are detachably connected to the arms by which they are carried, thus providing great flexibility in the Patented Jan. 13, 1959 formation of patterned patios through which any number of artistic designs may be formed. l

A further object is to provide an apparatus of the general character discussed above wherein the hub members may be provided with a novel type depending ange to space them above the ground and to facilitate the use of reinforcing rods where heavier paving slabs are to be employed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings I have shown two embodiments of the invention. In this showing:

Figure l is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the use'of the apparatus in forming the initial paving slabs;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the use of the apparatus in forming the next successive set of slabs;

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the hub members and associated elements;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional View on line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view showing the novel type of hinge connection between one of the hub members and the adjacent portion of one of the plate-supporting arms and associated elements;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a completed slab showing the use of reinforcing rods;

Figure 8 is a detail section on line 8 8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a plan View of a modified form of the invention showing its adaptation for use with reinforcing bars;

Figure l() is an edge elevation of the same; and

Figure ll is a detail sectional View on line 11-11 of Figure l0.

Referring to Figures 3, 4 and 5, the numeral 10 designates a hub member as a whole shown in the present instance as being octagonal. This is the preferred form in which the hub member is made, but it will become apparent that other shapes may be employed. As shown in Figure 3, the hub member 10 comprises a body 11 having eight vertical faces l2. Secured in any suitable manner to the top of the body 10 is a preferably integral plate 13 open in its center portion as at 14 and provided with radial projections l5 corresponding in number and arrangement to the faces l2 of the body 11. Each radial projection is formed at its radially outer edge with a half hinge i6 comprising spaced loops through which extends a 4hinge pin 17. The elements just described cooperate with other elements to support with respect to the hub a member for forming slab elements in a manner to be described.

Each body ll is provided vertically therethrough with one or more openings 2t) through which extend spikes 2l to be driven into the ground to position the hub members in forming the pavement or patio. Each spike 21 is provided at its upper end with an enlarged flat head 22 adapted to seat against the top of the body member 11 when the spikes are driven into the ground.

A plurality olf mold plate supporting arms 2S are adapted to be connected to the hub members 10. Each such arm, as sho-wn in Figures 3, 4 and 5, is provided at one end with a plate 26 secured to the arm by angle braces 27. Each plate 26 has one end overhanging what will be the radially inner end of each arm 2S when associated with one of the hub members 10, and such projecting end of each plate 26 is provided with a half hinge 2% comprising spaced fingers adapted to register with the spaces between the loops of the half hinge 16. The lingers 28 are approximately semicircular in cross section as shown in Figure 6, having their ends 29 terminating numerals.

v.in the horizontal position of the arm 25 approximately above the center of the circle forming the fingers 28. This arrangement facilitates the connection of the half -hingernernbers yand to eachother and thev discon- "*that'combinationsofthe'plates 32 cooperatewith each other to form molds forf'the pouring of initial slabs A.. 'Certain others ofthe plates 32,' at the margin of the wall; oiypatiojeooperate -with an'edge Vform 35 to-'form slabs B shown inthe present instance as `being identical with theslabs A. l'Inl thefuse ofthe 'apparatus asiIluStrated,

leach side of each of the slabs A and B is equal inlength tothe diagonal-:distance between adjacent corners of adjacent slabs', in V'which case the same mold plates 32 will be used to form subsequent slabs C as illustrated in 'Figure 2. in vthe final use of the apparatus as illustrated,'slabs D'are formed (Figure7).

In Figures 9, l and l1, there is illustrated a modified form of the inventionwhich adapts it for use for installing reinforcing` bars where heavier pavements or patios are desired. Most of the parts emplo-yed in the modified Vform of the invention are identical with those previously described andhave been indicated by the same reference In' the modified forrn of the invention, the body 11' is provided therebeneath with a depending height block 40, having a flat -bottom surface adapted to rest on the leveled surface of the ground; Such height Iblock may be reduced in size relative to the body 11 to provide for the arrangement adjacent thereto of reinforcing bars 41. The use of the height block, of course, increases the thickness of the resultant slab, and to this end, the mold plates 32 are provided with depending flange portions 42, preferably inclined from the vertical tofa greater extent than the plates 32, and provided with slots 43 arranged at s'uch a distance apart as to accommodate the reinforcing rods 41 lying adjacent the sides of the height block 40.

Operation VThe area to be paved is leveled and otherwise prepared inthe usual manner, and forms 35 are placed on the desired number of sides of such area. Assuming that Vth`e1left-hand slabs or blocks A and B in Figure l represent the extreme left-hand end of the area to be paved, it will be understood, of course, that one of the forms 35 will extend downwardly along the left-hand edges of such blocks. In such case, the arm of the hub member lying between such blocks will be eliminated. Otherwise, such hub will be connected as shownl to the two lefthand blocks, to the block A to the right of the hub member referred to, and to the corresponding block A to the left of such hub member. The positions of each pair of the block members B will be measured to locate adjacent parallel edges thereof at the proper distance from each other. This is done by employing arms 25 of such length that the distance between the remote faces of each pair of plates 32 having their upper ends in engagement with the form 35 will be equal to twice the'distance from the center of the intervening hub mel "ber .l0 to the remote face of the plate 32 adapted to form the nearest side of the intermediate slab A. In the embodiment shown, the lengths of the plates 32 will be such thatv the diagonal distance between each upper corner of the slab A as viewed in Figure 1 to the nearest corner of the closest slab B will be equal to the length of one kof the plates 32. f This is a highly practicable arrangement since, as pointedout below, the same plates 32, employed for forming sides of the slabs A and B, also can be employed for forming sides of the slabs to be arranged in the spaces initially occupied yby the two hub members 10 adjacent the form 35.

Assuming that the left-hand upper hub member 10 and associated elements as viewedin Figure l have been so placed, successive hub members 10 and associated parts alo-ng the form are similarly 'spaced so that oppositely facing plates 32 of successive units will. define blocks B which will be of a width between lthe 'ppositely facing plates 32 referred to, equal to the length ofieach of the plates 32. With such arrangement, square blocks B will be formed, although it 'will "becomeapparent that the present apparatus is not limited to the formation of the particular design shown or to the specific shapes of the elements of the slab. l

Having, placedhubmembers lfandassociate'd elements along the lengthlof tbe tforrn 35m-the manneridescribed, the next lower' line ofhub members .10 'and associated elements lwill be placed as shown in .Figure l. 'lhis procedure may be repeatedY for any. distance longitudinally along the form 35 and for any distance transversely of form 35, depending on howunany hubJmembers it) and-associated elements. are available. .The entire.y area of the patio or-thelike is covered with.the'pres ent apparatus in thernanner described, or a part of the desired area at a` time will beicovered and the formation of the blocks A and B carried out in'successive steps.

Thefhub members ltl'arepositioned in the manner referredto with'the spikes-Zlrerno-ved; and .wheneach hub member has :been 'accurately' placed in position, the spikes apparatus.

will bejdriven intotheground, thus anchoring the elements inproperiposition. 1 As pointed out, the surface tobe paved is'leveled and smootheriprior to using thepresent Since thefrplates 32`areof equal widths vertically thereof `and are arranged 'with their .edges in' contact with the smooth-surface, it will be .apparent thatfthe uppervedges of the;plates 32 will all lie in a'common plane. Having so placed the -units,athe -slabs AandB will be poured fand leveled off in the'jplane of the upper edges 'of the plates 32.

Afterthe slabs A- and B haveset or.hardened,steps are taken to-provideforthe pouring of the next-successive slabs., As -previously stated,'the'plates.321are inclined from the vertical as'. shown in Figure 4. Aft'erthe initially formed slabs have been set, therefore,the1-opera tor may `swing-the arms 25 upwardly tol movelther-p'lates 32 out of molding position. In the ycase of the I"hub members 1t)V and associated/'elements 'arranged :adjacent the form 35, complete removal of the units .takesplace to lopen the lspaces-for the'pour-ing of' the Hati-31am; 1n

the case of the second row of hub members-M, a differ ent-operation is'gperformed; These-:Shubfrnembers are left in position, and the plates 32. and.thexadjacent-ends of the varms 25 arey swung upwardly.y With the .arms 25 arranged at an Aangle of 45 or more tothe horizontal, the hinge :lingers 23'rnay bef released from AtheA` pin ll'' and removed fromtheir positions. Thehinge fingers 2S are then placed in'zposition withrespect to those half' hinges i6 which are arranged at 455between' the y'half hinges previously employed. Y Supporting the yarms 25'at an.angle of at least 45 to-theY horizontal, the hinge lingcrsZfare now arranged'betweenthezloops of the halfihingesl referred to'and engaged aroun'd'the corresponding'pins 5.7.

. The arms 25 :andassociatedfplates 32 are then'. dropped rinto position as'shown in .Figure 2, in engagement 'with the prepared'sub-surface. The spaces between adjacent pairs of' slabs.Brand'thenextadjacent row of slabs A'will now beV enclosed asl-'shown irl-'Figure 2 for the pouring of the slabs C: These areas, ofcourse, will be-bounde'd'by the forni 35, adjacent-edges of the slabs B' andthe intermediate' slabs A, and bytwo of the-plates 32.

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as in the case of those arranged between the blocks B. This will leave a row of hexagonal spaces to be filled in to form what will be slabs D i .i Figure 2. In other words, assuming that an indefinite number of rows of hubs and associated elements are employed, the odd-numbered rows will be completely removed and the even-numbered rows will be left in position with the arms 25 of each retained molding unit arranged at 45 to the vertical and horizontal as shown in Figure 2. Two plates 32 of each molding unit as viewed in Figure 2 will form sides of slabs C, while the other two plates 32 of downwardly diverging arms 25 will form sides of the slabs D.

With the parts so re-arranged, the enclosed areas for the slabs C and D will be poured and leveled to the common planes of the slabs A and B, the form 35 and the upper edges of the plates 32. After the slabs C and D have set or hardened, all of the remaining hub members 10 and associated elements will be completely removed in the manner described by swinging upwardly on the arms 25 and then lifting the molding units from the ground. Where each such unit is removed, there will be left an octagonal space. Each uppermost such space, as viewed in Figure 2, will be surrounded by edges of blocks A, B, C and D, while successive rows of such spaces will be bounded by adjacent edges of blocks A and D. Concrete is then poured into all such spaces to form blocks E. The pouring and leveling of the blocks E completes the formation of the pavement or patio, and it will be apparent that the operation may be carried out progressively and easily with a minimum degree of skill.

Where deeper reinforced slabs are desired, the form of the apparatus shown in Figures 9, l0 and ll is employed. The reinforcing rods 41 are placed so as to extend on opposite sides of the height block 40 of each unit 10 with the reinforcing rods projecting through the grooves 43. The modified form of apparatus is so designed that a thicker slab will be formed and the depending flanges 42 of the plates 32 will support such plates with their upper edges in the proper plane to form successive slabs. As previously stated, the flanges 42 are inclined from the vertical to a greater degree than the plates 32, and this is to facilitate the upward swinging of the arms 25 when the plates 32 are to be removed from position. With either form of the invention, the resulting patio will appear as shown in solid lines in Figure 7. Where the modified form of the invention is used, the pattern of the reinforcing rods 41 will be as shown in dotted lines in Figure 7. The height block 40 being substantially smaller in horizontal dimensions than the lengths of the plates 32, it will be apparent that the reinforcing bars 41 will lie within the areas of all of the slab elements formed, including the smaller blocks A and B, thus providing adequate reinforcement for the resultant pavement or patio.

The invention has been described in accordance with the illustration of the parts in the drawings, but it will be apparent that a Wide variety of designs may be achieved, presenting a high degree of artistic or esthetic appeal. For example, the plates 32 (Figure l) may be arcuately formed as sections of circles having their centers at the centers of the respective hub members 10. In this case, when such plates 32 are employed, the slabs E will be circular. It is contemplated, in order to reduce the expense involved in constructing pavements or patios by home owners, that units of the present invention be stocked by hardware and building supply dealers for rental to home owners. Thus, without the expense of purchasing the apparatus, the home owner may rent the apparatus and construct his own pavement or patio. As previously stated, the invention may be used with great facility and without substantial skill thus permitting the constructing of the pavement or patio at a relaively low cost. x i

It will be apparent that in the apparatus as illustrated, each hub lil, together with its associated height block in the modified form of the invention, is formed as an equiangular polygon. This will be the shape most commonly used.

In a little different aspect, the invention comprises a plurality of mold frames open vertically therethrough and :adapted to rest on a horizontal surface to constitute concrete forms. For example, the mold frame for the upper central slab B is formed by the board 35 and the three surrounding hubs l@ and associated elements, and such frame constitutes wall portions certain of which, namely the elements 32 of the molding units, constitute plates associated with certain of the hub portions. Each of the molding frames for the slabs A (except for those at the right and left hand extremities of the platform which will be formed by mold boards) will be formed by four surrounding plates 32 carried by the arms 25 of each of the four surrounding hub members 10. Therefore there is a definite cooperative relationship between the different hub members and associated elements which cooperate to forrn slabs in the initial practice of the invention.

The constructions as shown embody the invention in preferred forms, but it is intended that the disclosure be illustrative rather than definitive, the invention being dened in the claims.

I claim:

l. For use in laying concrete platforms and the like on a horizontal surface, a molding unit comprising a polygonal horizontal body adapted to rest on said surface, an arm projecting from one side of said body, a molding plate carried by the end of said arm remote from said body, said body and said plate being of the same height, whereby, when they rest on a ilat surface, the tops thereof lie in a common plane, said side of said body and the adjacent end of Said arm being provided with coacting detachable connecting elements, such elements being idenn tical at each side of said body whereby, when said unit is in a predetermined place and said plate has been used in the formation of a concrete element at the side thereof remote from said body, said arm may be disconnected from one side of said body and moved and connected to another side thereof for re-use of said plate in a molding operation without moving said body.

2. For use in laying co-ncrete platforms and the like on a horizontal surface, a molding unit comprising a polygonal horizontal body adapted to rest on said surface, an arm projecting from one side of said body, a molding plate carried by the end of said arm remote from said body, said body and said plate being of the same height, whereby, when they rest on a flat surface, the tops thereof. lie in a common plane, said side of said body and the adjacent end of said arm being provided with coacting detachable connecting elements, such elements being identical at each side of said body whereby, when said unit is in a predetermined place and said plate has been used in the formation of a concrete element at the side thereof remote from said body, said arm may be disconnected from one side of said body and moved and connected to another side thereof for reuse of said plate in a molding operation without moving said body, and anchoring means passing through said body and through and below said horizontal surface to anchor said body in a predeter mined position.

3. For use in laying concrete platforms and the like on a horizontal surface, a molding unit comprising a polygonal horizontal body adapted to rest on said surface, and arm projecting from one side of said body, and a molding plate carried by the end of said arm remote from said body, said body and said plate being of. the same height, whereby, when they rest on a flat surface, the tops thereof lie in a common plane, each side of said body being provided with identical spaced loops having a pin projecting therethrough, the end of said arm adjacent said body being provided with detachable elements engageable in the spaces between said loops and around said pin, said detachable elements curving l around Hsaid pin and being `openat the side thereof toward said arm whereby, upon the upward tilting of the end of such arm remote from said body, said detachable elements may be disconnected from said pin and engaged between said loops and the pin associated therewith at another side of said body without moving said body.

4. For use in laying concrete platforms and the like on a horizontal surface, a molding unit comprising a polygonal horizontal body adapted to rest on said surface, an arm projecting from one side of said body, a molding plate carried by the end of said arm remote from said'body, said body and said plate being of the same height, whereby, when they rest on a flat surface, the tops thereof lie in a common plane, each side of said body being provided with identical spaced loops having a pin projecting therethrough, the end of said arm adjacent said body being provided with detachable elements engageable in the spaces between said loops and around said pin, said detachable elements curving around said pin and being open at the side thereof toward said arm whereby, upon the upward tilting of the end of such arm remote from said body, said detachable elements may be disconnected from said pin and engaged between said loops and the pin associated therewith at another side of said body without moving said body, said body being provided with anchoring elements projecting Afrom the bottom thereof to be inserted through and below said surface to anchor said body in a predetermined position.

5. For use in laying concrete platforms and the like on a horizontal surface, a molding unit comprising a polygonal horizontal body adapted to rest on said surface, an arml projecting from one side of saidbody, a

molding plate carried by the end of said arm remote from said body, said body and said plate being of the same height, whereby, when they rest on a flat surface, the tops thereof lie in a common plane, each side of said body being provided with identical spaced loops having a pin projecting therethrough, the end of said arm adjacent said body being provided with detachable elements engageable in the spaces between said loops and around said pin, said detachable elements curving around said pin and being open at the Vside thereof toward said arm whereby, upon the upward tilting of the end of such arm remote from said body, said detachable elements may be disconnected from said pin and engaged between said loops and the pin associated therewith at another side of said body without moving said body, said body having vertical openings therethrough 'at spaced points, and a spike insertable through each of said openings and through and below said surface to anchor said body in any1 predetermined position.

6. For use in constructing concrete platforms and the like on a horizontal surface, a molding unit comprising a horizontal angular polygonal body, a height block projecting downwardly beneath said body concentric therewith and smaller than said body and having its sides parallel to the respective sides of said body, said height l block having its bottom lying in a horizontal plane and adapted to rest on said surface, an arm projecting from one side of said body and a molding plate carried by the `end of said arm remote from said body, said plate having horizontal top and bottom edges the latter of which is adapted to rest on said surface, the upper edge of said plate lying in a common horizontal plane with the top of said body, said sides of said body and the adjacent end `of said arm being provided with coacting detachable connecting elements, such elements at each side of said body being identical whereby, when said unit is in a predetermined place and said plate has been used in the formation of a concrete element at the side thereof remote from said body, said arm may be disconnected from said one side of said body and moved and connected to another side thereof for thefre-use of said plate in Ia molding operation "without moving said body, said plate in ythe bottom thereof having `slots spaced apart a distance greater Vthan 'the' distance between opposite sides of said height block for the 'insertion of 'reinforcing rodsin such slots and along suchsides "of said height block.

7. Apparatus according" to claim 6 wherein said detachable connecting elements at each side of saidbody comprise spaced loop'sforming half hinges and a hinge pin projecting through said loops, the elements connected to said adjacent end of said arm comprising substantially semicylindrical loops insertable in the spaces between said loops whereby said semicylindrical loops are detachable from the pin at one side of said body and insertable between the loops'and engag'e'able with`th'e pinl at another side of said body.

8. Apparatus according to claim .6'wher`ein` said bodyvv is provided with vertical elongated anchoring elements spaced apart such a 4distance that they lie wholly within the area Vof said height block, Asaid anchoring elements being insertable through and below said surface to ir said body in any predetermined position. y

9. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said Vbody is provided with vertical 'parallel openings therethrough lying wholly Within the-area of said height block, and elongated pointed anchoring elements 'passing through said openings'and 'through and below'said surface toanchor said body in any'predetermined position.

10. Apparatus for use in constructing concrete .platforms on a at surface, comprising' a plurality of frames open vertically therethrough and having narrow substantially vertical wall `.port'ions` cooperating with the dat surface to for'm concrete forms, certain of said wall portions constituting horizontally elongated mold plates and said frames being spaced from'each other, a plurality of hubs, 'an arm connected at one end to eachof certain `of said plates, each hub being horizontal and polygonal and having at each side vthereof identical connecting means, the other 'end of each arm having means coacting with and 'operative for detachably connecting such arm with one of said connecting means, adjacent corners of two of said frames and the two slabs formed therein being spaced from eachother whereby, afterV said frames have `been'iilled `with`concrete to form slabs and such concrete has set, one of said arms may be disconnected from `its 'associated hub and said coaeting means moved'to a'different side'of said associated hub whereby the associated plate will 'span the distance between said 'corners of said "two slabs to cooperate with the edges of vvsuch slabs in forming 'a 'mold 'for `the formation of another slab.i

11. Apparatus according 'to claim k1() wherein veach hub is provided with anchoring means projecting through and below said at surface to :anchor each hub in predetermined relationship to the other hubs.

12. Apparatus according to claim' 10 wherein each hub forms lan equi-angular polygon and is provided therebeneath with a correspondingly shaped polygonal height block adapted y-t'o 'rest on said surface and having each side thereof arranged inwardly 'of yand parallel to, one side of said hub, each-mold plate being of a vertical height equal to the combined Vheight lof each hub and its associated heightblock, withjth'e tops -of 'said hubs and the top edges 7of said plates lying in fa' rcommon plane,

each plate ybeing provided lin the bottom 'edgel thereof' forcing lrods through -said slotsv -and'alo'ng lsuch A'sides 0f Said height blocks. Y

No references cited. 

